Translator Adrian Gallegos said that the 49-year-old was helping to clean and sanitize belts and equipment on the waist-high conveyor system, where he said meat is packaged with netting.

Somehow, he said it appeared that Ricardo got his hand, then perhaps his arm sucked into a pulley system.

“His arm was caught in the machine,” he said.

“He was on the ground on his knees,” said Adrian. “I told him, ‘Hey get up’, and he wouldn’t respond.”

“When I looked over and I seen him, he wasn’t there,” said Adrian. “His face was colorless.”

“I called for other employees and just asked for help,” he said.

Other workers who saw the accident told Adrian that they thought Ricardo’s glove or clothing may have gotten caught in the pulley and it drew him in.

For its part, Hillshire Brands’ corporate offices would not confirm that it was Ricardo that passed away.

They declined an interview, releasing a statement that said:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of an employee at our Zeeland, Michigan, plant. We are currently conducting an thorough investigation and are working with the local authorities. We have not publicly named the employee out of respect for the family.”

“I got no words, you know, I haven’t been able to sleep every time I close my eyes, it just replays in my head. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be hard going back to work and looking over and picturing that,” said Adrian.

Hernandez regrets not encouraging Ricardo to go home that night, to not work so hard.

“He brought your day up,” said Hernandez.

They said they will be looking for ways to help Ricardo’s family in the coming days.